From a new story in AdWeek about the corporate brand campaign launching today:
CEO Craig Dubow said the campaign's cost, which he described as "significant," was justified by the potential ad revenue it will bring: "The economy, it’s been difficult, but we believe investing in the awareness of what we’re trying to do is going to create real opportunity."
CEO Craig Dubow said the campaign's cost, which he described as "significant," was justified by the potential ad revenue it will bring: "The economy, it’s been difficult, but we believe investing in the awareness of what we’re trying to do is going to create real opportunity."
Awareness of what we're trying to do? Really. Instead of "It's all within reach", it should read, "It's All About Corporate."
ReplyDeleteAccording to Martore and Dubow, "It's All About Me." Screw the employees, stations, and papers.
ReplyDeleteAnd is the best line from the memo Craigy sent to everyone this morning:
ReplyDelete"This is an exciting milestone in our company’s history and an important one. It represents the many significant changes we have made together over the last several years and the culmination of that great work."
Don't you mean years of slash and burn Craig? Because that's all you're going to be remembered for, in addition to taking obscene bonuses for driving this company into the ground.
"CEO Craig Dubow said the campaign's cost, which he described as "significant," was justified by the potential ad revenue it will bring....."
ReplyDeleteOK, I can't speak for the editorial side. But the customers I worked with really appreciated good customer service. That means phones answered most, if not all, of the time, voicemails returned in a reasonable time, advertising adjustments processed in a reasonable time, ads that looked good in the paper and gave good value for cost charged, and working with people who actually knew what was going on at a paper and could fix problems.
Spending money on people who can take care of customers is more important than a branding campaign.
When I was laid off, I was told that the revenue numbers were not what they needed to be and the only option was to cut costs. It's insulting to have the company turn around and, in addition to paying the obscene bonuses, spend a fortune on a branding campaign of dubious worth.
Notice the new member of the board was the same person that invited Craig Dubow to join his board before he retired.
ReplyDeleteSeems like Craig Dubow is playing a little "payback". It is nice to load the board up with your friends isn't it Craig? It certainly helps with job security!!!
Remember to give Martore credit for those "significant changes we have made together over the last several years and the culmination of that great work." You mean slashing employees to make way for this crap.
ReplyDelete"Significant" cost: Still less than the bonuses Craig, Gracia & Co will be getting from mesmerized directors.
ReplyDeleteDubow has been talking about "opportunites" for years now, but it seems that only BS is on the horizon.
ReplyDeleteThe real opportunity is to stuff your pants' pockets, Martore & Dubow, because greed is the name of your game.
ReplyDeleteNot as significant as the cash the Board of Directors has thrown away on Dubow's, Martore's, Dickey's, Hunke's, etc., etc's. bonuses, options, perks and retirement plan infusions!
ReplyDeleteWhat a waste of money!
None of these geniuses has any idea how much ad revenue this new waste of time will bring in. But they can say whatever they want because there's no way to track it anyway. This campaign is like putting aloe on third degree burns.
ReplyDeleteDidn't the Crystal Palace folks try to convince us that partnering with Yahoo was going to be the solution to all the problems?
ReplyDeleteNow a new branding campaign is going to do it?
To quote Bill the Cat, "Pffffffffffffttttt.